NRA-L-000076 / 1856

Letter from Grandmama Rolier, née Benielli, to Gustave de Reiset, May 30, 1856

An elderly family correspondent expresses affection for Gustave and Bianca and hopes to see more descendants; a later family note identifies her as Grandmama Rolier, née Benielli.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000076

NRA-L-000076 image 1 showing an Italian manuscript letter on folded paper.
Image 1Letter text.
NRA-L-000076 image 2 showing the reverse with a brief manuscript note, embossed marks, folds, and text showing through the paper.
Image 2Reverse with brief note and embossed marks.

Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Letter text

Original transcript

Pariggi il 30 mag
1856

Desiderate mio caro figlio
che vi scriva alcune righe,
ma cosa potrò dirvi di più
di quel vi ho detto; si vi
dirò dunque che vi amo del
più profondo del mio cuore
se la mia cara Bianca vivendo
felice sarà per me in questo
mondo una parte della
felicità celeste. ma non mi
presserò di fare il viaggio,
per che disidero di vedere
di godere due o tre figli e;
anche, quattro; e mi pare
di non essere troppo esigente
di domandare a Dio questa
grazia. vi abbraccio tutte
due mille volte; e più se lo
desiderate, per rendervi
contente. sono la vostra
affezionata Madre e gran
madre e, bisaiola ve Rolier

Letter text

English translation

Paris, 30 May
1856

You wish, my dear son,
that I write you a few lines,
but what more can I tell you
than what I have already said? Yes, I will
therefore tell you that I love you from
the depths of my heart.
If my dear Bianca lives
happily, it will be for me in this
world a part of
heavenly happiness. But I will not
hasten to make the journey,
because I wish to see
and enjoy two or three children—
even four—and it seems to me
that I am not too demanding
in asking God for this
grace. I embrace you both
a thousand times, and more if you
wish it, to make you
happy. I am your
affectionate mother and grand-
mother and great-grandmother, Widow Rolier.

Reverse with brief note and embossed marks

Original transcript

de Grand maman Rolier
née Benielli à son arrière
petit fils Gustave de Reiset
le 30 mai 1856.

Notes

Later annotations:
de Grand maman Rolier
née Benielli à son arrière
petit fils Gustave de Reiset
le 30 mai 1856.

Reverse with brief note and embossed marks

English translation

From Grandmama Rolier,
née Benielli, to her great-
grandson Gustave de Reiset,
30 May 1856.

Notes

Later annotations:
From Grandmama Rolier,
née Benielli, to her great-
grandson Gustave de Reiset,
30 May 1856.

Discovery Terms

  • Family correspondence
  • Grandmothers
  • Great-grandparents
  • Descendants
  • Paris